Insects and tiny pests are an irritation, and using insect repellent poses health risks in a household dedicated to organic and healthy living, but how can we prevent these insects without resorting to chemicals? Insects outnumber humans by the millions so it may seem like a pointless task to even attempt to get rid of the harmful ones but there are ways nature can assist you.
The pests that are irritating and harmful include the following:
- Hookworms
- Cutworms
- Mites
- Slugs and snails
- Fleas
- Mosquitoes
- Flies
- Cabbage moths
- Aphids
Many annoying insects are deterred by plants that are not only attractive (and healthy) but add to the appeal of our garden.
Here are nine of these plants and a list of the goggas they repel.
- Catnip: LSD for cats but catnip also repels mosquitos and cockroaches. Just be prepared for some excitement if you have cats.
- Lavender: This attractive and easy to grow bush repels mosquitoes, houseflies, and fleas. Grow it in sunny patches in your garden but also dry the flowers and bring the dried blooms into you home to perfume the air and keep flies out.
- Sweet Basil: Delicious in cooking, sweet basil also repels mosquitoes and houseflies. Easily dried, pick the top leaves off the bush to encourage prolific growth and use these leaves for cooking.
- Marigolds: Aphids not only bring ants into your garden, but they can also decimate healthy plants. While reducing aphid population can be achieved by blasting them with a stream of water, or taking a wet cloth and rubbing the stems and leaves, who has the time to do this regularly enough to make a difference? This is where marigolds are helpful because they repel aphids when planted in strategic spots in your garden. Plus, marigolds also deter mosquitoes.
- Lemon balm: Another plant that deters housefly and mosquito, lemon balm can be steeped into a lemony tea that is calming and pleasant tasting.
- Rosemary: This remarkably healthy herb has been shown to have anti-cancer properties and adds a delicious flavour to lamb. Plus, fleas and mosquitoes don’t like the smell of rosemary.
- Lemon grass: Similarly, lemon grass repels mosquitoes, houseflies and fleas and can also be steeped to make a delicious tea.
- Thyme: Ants are not crazy about thyme and mosquitoes avoid it as well. Thyme is an herb that goes well with chicken, salsa, and hummus. Plus, the essential oil of thyme contains a compound called thymol, which is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
- Peppermint: The leaves of peppermint can be added to smoothies and teas, but peppermint also repels mosquitoes, spiders, and houseflies. Peppermint is a prolific grower if you plant it under a garden tap, as well as nip the top leave off each branch to encourage spread.
Conclusion
Using nature itself to assist you in the management of garden pests is easy and effective. Plus, these plants have other beneficial properties that will help us all in our quest for health.
Have fun planting
Bruce
